County takes home awards

July 31, 2013

Mono County’s exhibit at the California State Fair County Exhibit competition was honored with a Gold Award as well as the award for Best for Use of Products, Produce or Artifacts on July 12.

The county’s exhibit this year showcased Devils Postpile, Mono Lake, and Bodie State Historic Park—three of the region’s more popular attractions and part of the reasons why pre-eminent travel publisher Lonely Planet named California’s Eastern Sierra as one of the Top 10 Best U.S. Destinations to visit in 2013.

On the fair’s opening day, Dan Lyster, director of economic development, was at the State Fair Awards Ceremony to receive the ribbons on behalf of Mono County.

“The Mono County exhibit features three of our most popular visitor attractions and is really an eye-catching display,” Lyster said. “Our builder, John Queirolo, has outdone himself in terms of attention to detail this year. The interior of the Bodie General Store is so realistic, you almost expect the shopkeeper to come out and take your order.”

Mono County Economic Development staff worked closely with Queirolo to establish the design direction for the exhibit which includes Styrofoam postpile columns as well as some real granite rocks and trees to add a 3-dimensional effect to the 10’ wide backdrop photos of Devils Postpile and Mono Lake.

Queirolo, a historian, stocked the Bodie store with his own artifacts from a lifetime collection of antiques and historical items.

Mono County has received awards at the State Fair every year it has participated since 2008. This is the second time the county has taken the award for Best Use of Products, Produce or Artifacts.